In a significant development at the Dubai Airshow 2023, Latvia's national airline, airBaltic, has announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. This order, combined with existing ones, will enable airBaltic to operate a fleet of 100 A220s by 2030.
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A Strategic Move
The announcement was made during the Dubai Airshow 2023. The order is a strategic move by airBaltic as it gears up to list publicly via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2024. The airline has presented a business plan of operating 100 aircraft by 2030.
Expansion Plans
With the new firm order for 30 Airbus A220-300s and purchase rights for a further 20, airBaltic is positioned to grow its fleet to 100 of the type by 2030. The Riga, Latvia-based carrier plans to expand its existing bases in the Baltics and the 127 routes it currently serves.
The A220-300 Aircraft
The A220-300 variant of the Airbus is not yet certified to fly at London City Airport (LCY), which has a steep approach and short runway. However, Airbus confirmed it is trying to get the -300 certified for LCY. "We're constantly trying to improve the operability of the airplane,” said Airbus CCO Christian Scherer.
Trust in the Aircraft
Despite being affected by accelerated inspections of Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines (GTF), airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss expressed full trust in the aircraft with the engine. "We have been through a difficult summer,” Gauss added. “The engine is maturing and we wouldn’t place an order if we didn’t have full trust in the aircraft with the engine”.
Conclusion
This order marks a significant milestone for airBaltic and its expansion plans. With the new Airbus A220-300s, the airline is well-positioned to enhance its services and reach new heights in the aviation industry.
